in the space of HR consulting, which firms are better pureplay HR consulting firms (Hay, Hewitt) or Big 4 HR advisory (Deloitte, PwC etc)?Also amongst the big 4 whats the pecking order in terms of HR consulting?Would appreciate views from experienced people to make up my mind in terms of which firm to look up to. Thanks!

Pureplay/specialist/niche (whichever you prefer) are better, but Big 4 (Deloitte, PwC, ACN) are cheaper and easier to buy from if the client is undertaking a large-scale programme or if they need staff augmentation.

SarahReally depends what you're engaging them for and the size and scale of your organisation. If it's for a very sepcific, discreet piece of work, then a niche player is potentially best placed. If it's part of a wider, integrated change program then the Big 4 may be better.Also depends on your organisation. The Big 4 tend to want to work with bigger, prestigious companies. If you don't fit into that category you may not get their best people. Niche players will, potentially pay more attention to a smaller client.In terms of the Big 4, in my humble opintion, I'd go: Deloitte, PwC (but expect them to grow via Mr Unwin as that is his background), KPMG, E&Y.

Amongst the Big-4 Deloitte and PwC have large established teams and primarily work on large-scale/long-term "transformation" deployments. KPMG has a large established team on the public sector side (perhaps with the best Big-4 reputation in public sector HR consulting) but that's offset by the oddly small private sector side of the business. Although I've seen a couple of recurring adverts on this site, E&Y does not have any capacity or reputation in the HR/people & change area, as "HR consulting" sits with Tax.